125 Pounds of Provisions for $9.20

Montgomery Ward Groceries and Bargains for November 1909

Seems there was nothing Montgomery Ward didn't sell at some point during the 20th century. Those who remember Ward's department stores in big malls may find it hard to imagine that they were once into mail-order groceries in a big way – but much like with Amazon today, people ordered staple goods through the mail because they were cheaper.

This 1909 special assortment represents some sort of apotheosis of value: literally over 100 pounds of groceries and household goods for under 10 bucks. Of course, $10 was a lot of money in 1909. Still it's hard to look at all those products spread out across the page and not feel like you were getting a mighty fine bargain.

Click to see all the goods you would be getting in closeup: rice, peas, coffee, sugar, syrup, raisins, tea, corn, spices, even soap, and, ummm, 10 pounds of prunes. It's a shame the front cover of this catalog is so badly torn up – the children's Christmas assortment for 95 cent looks exciting too. (I don't think you can get one box of Crackerjack for that price anymore!)

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We're celebrating all the abundance and excitement found in vintage 20th century American catalogs: the exotic, the fashionable, the surprising, the latest, the coolest, the cheapest, the oddest, the choices.

Not just Sears and Montgomery Wards, You could buy anything from a catalog in the 20th century: from a box of raisins to a house, from a computer to a car, from a billy club to an inflatable brassiere. The old-time printed catalog which arrived in your mailbox showed the 20th-century American Consumer just how to consume.